The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-12-22
A SUCCESSFUL RAID.
Four Extensive Distillerics Seized in Ono
Day.
atlanta Consultation Dec. ii.

INe nosL ualluS auu succcestul ie'cuuo
raid ever accomplished in the south since
the service was established, occurred las.
Sunday in Pickens county.
The raid was made by Colonel I. ".
Alexander, one of the most intrepid Off.
GERS in the department, assisted by Deputy
Stephens.
Colonel Alexander received intimation
rs long ago as last August that the Petit
brothers, Moss and Turner, four notorious
moonshincrs, were operating an extensive
illicit distillery somewhere in the neigh
borhood of Jasper, in Pickens county.
The revenue men followed up all clues
and trails but would in the end find
themselves ct fault. If there were any
stills in thst part of the country they
were ipgeaiously concealed, for the most
persis!ant and vigilant endeavors of the
deputies failed to discover them. Col
onel Alexender was not discouraged,
however, and he resolved that he would
yet ferret out the moonshiners and cap
ture their still. Last week he received
certain information that caused him to
locate the long.looked for distillery about
FIVE miles to the west of Jasper. Accord.
ingly be pressed into service Deputy
Stevens, one of his most trusty men, and
prepared to make the raid Saturday
night found him in the woods adjoining
the plantation on which he felt sure the
still was hidden. He and his man laid
quit until shortly before daybreak Sunday,
when they stealthily crept toward hole
into which they had described several
figures entering, and they listened. Sup
pressed voices could be distinctly heard
below. Evidently the officers were on
the right track. They did not remain
inactive long. Their time had come and
they lowered themselves into.the opening.
Their approach was observed by some of
the workmen, who gave the alarm and
the moonshiners samperedaway, max.
ing their exit from the other side of the
distillery. One Of them was followed
several hundred yards, but escaped in the
darkness. AS soon as it was light enough
to admit Of a search being made Colonel
Alexander and his companion thorough.
ly explored the subterrsnean distillery.
1t was very extensive concern. There
was an excavation about thirty feet spare.
In it one hundred gallon still was in
operation. A large qusnty of mash and
beer was found, but no whisky could be
discovered. 1t was subsequently learned
that the men had carried off, the night
before, several hundred gallons Of liquor.
The distillery was fully equipped for
turning out twenty gallons of whisky a
day. The raiders were puzzled 10 under
stand how the distillery could have been
run without water. 1t is we'll understood,
among all who are familiar with the
business, that distilleries are always near
water. This site being far removed from
any water course is the reason, perhaps,
why the officers never before suspected
its existence. A close examination of
the cavern revealed the secret. From
the sides of a muddy log water was drip
ping. The earth was brushed aside and
the conduct vas found to be hollow trees
joined together. These wooden pipes
run distance of not less than 200 yards.
The way in which they we're connected
showed considerable ingenuity. Indeed,
the interior arrangements all denoted the
we'll known cunning of the monshiner.
All that was valuable about the still was
saved, but all else was destroyed.
After leaving this underground distil.
lery the raiders became satisfied that they
could find another near by. After some
little time and trouble they struck fresh
trail and followed it successfully to the
end. Only quarter Of mile away they
seized another underground distillery,
nearly as extensive as the other. This
was similarly arranged and was found
to have capacity for daily output of
Is gallons. A large quantity of mash
and beer was found. This was destroyed
and the copper still was save. No arrests
were made, the owner and his men hav-
ing beat q retreat upon the raiders ap.
proach.
About four hundred yards from this
place another diatillery was seized. This,
too, was hidden under the ground. The
ground over it was cultivated, and the
entrance and exits were cunniDgly con.
cealed from view. The interior arrange.
ments were like those described.
To the amazement of the officers
another subterraen whisky mandatory
was run upon. This was about as large
as the first. Just before the officers
approach the workmen had been busy,
but none of them were captured. A good
deal of material was here destroyed.
These four extensive distilleries were
situated in a radius of one mile. They
have been in operation for four or five
years. Their seizure is regarded by Col.
lector Crensbaw as a most important
achievement. Since they started to the
present time they must have made ten
thousand gallons of whisky.
Collector Crepshaw has exercised rare
discretion in selecting his deputies, who
are men of nerve and judgment. They
are men who never bring discredit upon
the service.
Colonel Alexander, who planned and
executed this raid, regarded as one of the
most fearless men in the State. The ad-
ventured through which he has passed
would make an interesting and thrilling
book if properly told.
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